Potty Training

If you follow me on Facebook or Twitter then you know about our last few weeks!  Potty training has been what our world has revolved around since the Saturday before last.

Peanut pulled off his diaper, unbeknownst to me and stayed dry all afternoon, so I took him to the potty, he went and I was stunned... literally SPEECHLESS!  I didn't know whether to run and put another diaper on him, acting as if it had never happened or continue with this and go into full Potty Training Boot Camp mode!

Well, Hubs and I talked it over and I decided to go ahead and give it a go.  I cleared the schedule for a week and we would do it as consistently as possible for 7 full days.  Going nowhere (almost no where).  Wearing little to no clothing.  With the goal of ditching diapers for good.

Day 1, 2 and 3 were pretty rough.  I don't think its that he was resistant or that I was doing it for him.  He would go, but it was being at his beck and call every 30 mins (we set a timer) and then sitting in the bathroom while he fooled around for 10 mins.  That was the exhausting part.

Finally on day 4, he seemed to do even better and then each day has gotten a little easier.  He does enjoy visiting EVERY public restroom he can find, so we try to keep it a secret that stores have pottys unless he asks for one!  (HEE HEE)

During the first few days, I was trying to do no diapers at all.  Sometimes after nap and bedtime, he would wake up dry and others, he'd be soaked.  By day 4, I had decided to fork over money and buy pull ups for those two occasions.  A gal pal suggested to just use a diaper and worry about that potty training part later, so I did and so far, no issues.  Still no consistency... sometimes he's dry and others he's wet.  So we'll focus on that part later.

We do still have an issue of pooping.  If anyone has any advice, please tell me.  He goes poop on the floor or in his underwears on his way to the potty.  Its like he hasn't figured that part out.  As soon as it (excuse the potty talk) start coming, he freezes!!!

I am just completely amazed at my little guy!  I never would have DREAMED that he would be potty training himself at this age.  He is doing marvelous!  I took him to school last Tuesday and he went through the whole day dry!  I am SO impressed!  As a treat I took him to Sonic to get a slushie!  He was thrilled!!!

Since I potty train around treats and rewards, we are doing the m&m's.  To me its the cheapest and easiest way to promote good "remembering"!!!  2 m&ms and a small sticker for pee-pee-ing in the potty.  4 m&ms and a big sticker for pooping in the potty.  I printed up a Dora calendar for Peanut to stick the stickers on.  Once the days are filled with stickers, he will go to Target and pick out a small toy as a prize.  I think once we do that, we'll stop with the rewarding of daytime potty achievements and work on nighttime rewards.

Also, after the first few times of Peanut going potty and getting a reward, Bubbie began to say things like, "Do I get m&ms too?" and I knew this could be bad!  HAHA!  Who wants a 5.5 yr old regressing because his younger brother is getting m&ms and he isn't?!  (Please don't tell me about how I should explain Bubbie his age, etc. etc. etc.!!)Hubbie talked to Bubbie and explained that being upset about this really wasn't right.  But I knew I had to come up with something to keep the peace.  

I gave Bubbie a choice of calendars for me to print out.  He chose a Cars calendar.  I put it right beside Peanut's calendar.  I told him that everyday that he helps occupy Buggy while I am with Peanut, helping Peanut with clothing, or for encouraging Peanut for doing a job- well done, he could get a sticker for the day too!  Once his calendar was full, he could also go to Target and get a small treat.  I thought this would also promote encouraging words from the older brother to the younger brother!  Something we need to work on!!!

So, all in all, its been a pretty good experience.  I've been super impressed with my second born baby boy who has become a big boy SO very quickly!  It kinda hurts my heart in a way.........

I truly believe that God orchestrated this whole "potty training thing at two-an-a-half-years-old".  I never would have started.  I really didn't think he was ready and I sure as heck didn't see any "signs" of readiness!  God knew I couldn't handle home schooling AND potty training this Fall/Winter!  Some people probably could do those two tasks with their eyes closed and one hand behind their back... not me!!!  God is good!